Before we begin: Health literacy is the degree to which individuals have the ability to find, understand, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions.
This tutorial walks you through everything you need to know about health literacy. We explain it in plain language, step by step, so whether you are a student, a patient, or simply curious, you will come away with a solid understanding.
We cover what it is, why it matters, how it is diagnosed, and what you can do about it. Key facts are called out along the way.
What is health literacy? Health literacy involves the information that people need to be able to make good decisions about health. There are two parts:
Personal health literacy is about how well a person can find and understand the health information and services that they need. It is also about using the information and services to make good health decisions.
Organizational health literacy is about how well organizations help people find the health information and services that they need. It also includes helping them use that information to make good health decisions.
Which factors can affect health literacy? Many different factors can affect a person’s health literacy, including their:
Knowledge of medical words
Understanding of how the health care system works
Ability to communicate with health care providers
Ability to find health information, which may require computer skills
Reading, writing, and number skills
Personal factors, such as age, income, education, language abilities, and culture
Physical or mental limitations
Many of the same people who are at risk for limited health literacy also have health disparities. Health disparities are health differences between different groups of people. These groups may be based on age, race, sex, or other factors.
Why is health literacy important? Health literacy is important because it can affect your ability to:
Make good decisions about your health.
Get the medical care you need. This includes preventative care, which is care that focuses on preventing disease and keeping you healthy.
Take your medicines correctly.
Manage a disease, especially a chronic (long-term) disease.
Lead a healthy lifestyle.
One thing that you can do is to make sure that you communicate well with your health care providers. If you don’t understand something a provider tells you, ask them to explain it to you so that you understand. You can also ask the provider to write down their instructions.
Categories: Wellness and Lifestyle, Personal Health Issues.
Source: National Institutes of Health — NIH Office of the Director.
Key Takeaways
Understanding health literacy is an important part of taking charge of your health. Here is what to remember:
- Know the signs — Recognizing early symptoms can lead to earlier diagnosis and better outcomes.
- Talk to your provider — If you have concerns or a family history of this condition, bring it up at your next checkup.
- Stay informed — Medical knowledge evolves. Keep learning and asking questions.
- You are not alone — Many people deal with this condition. Support groups and educational resources can help.